CTJ Band Media

We are excited to announce our new assistant band director, Mr. Bryant Anderson!

Bryant Anderson is beginning his sixth year of teaching and his first at Claudia Taylor Johnson High School. As a NEISD alumni, he is thrilled to return home to the community that helped him discover his own passion for music!

Prior to starting at CTJ, Mr. Anderson served as an Assistant Band Director at Clint Small Middle School in Austin ISD for five years. There, he was responsible for the beginning saxophone, clarinet, and flute classes; sub non varsity concert band; and co-taught Jazz Ensemble 2. He also founded and led the school’s first ever Band Officer team. During his time at Small, the Sub Non Varsity Band received consistent 1s at UIL and the overall program grew to one of the largest in the Austin area - with well over 300 students.

On top of his work at the middle school level, Mr. Anderson has worked extensively with Austin area high school programs as a chamber music coach and a marching band technician. At James Bowie High School (AISD), he coached multiple woodwind quintets and a reed quintet. Two of these ensembles, Aurora Winds and Solaris Winds, were invited to the Quarter Finals of the prestigious Fischoff competition. His chamber ensembles have also been invited to the UIL State Chamber Music Contest, finishing 5th and 10th place respectively. Additionally, Mr. Anderson has stayed active in the marching band activity, having served as a marching tech for Westwood High School (RRISD) for 8 years and James Bowie High School (AISD) for 5 years.

Mr. Anderson graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2021, studying with Dr. Stephen Page. There, he majored in Music Studies, minored in Arts Management and Administration, and earned a Performer’s Certificate in Saxophone. He performed with multiple groups during his time at UT, including the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Saxophone Ensemble (2017 Midwest Clinic performing group), Longhorn Band, and the Duloc and Inan Saxophone Quartets. Most notably, the Inan Saxophone Quartet received 1st Place in the Senior Mixed Instrumental Division of the 2020 Coltman Chamber Music Competition. At the end of his time at UT, he student-taught in Eanes ISD with Kerry Taylor and Kristin Hames - both mentors he considers instrumental in building his love for teaching.

Finally, as mentioned, Mr. Anderson is a proud NEISD alumni, having graduated from Ronald Reagan High School in 2016. There, he was a founding member of the award-winning Quid Nunc Saxophone Quartet (2015 Midwest Performing Ensemble) and inspired by his mentor Greg White. His mother also teaches at Lopez Middle School! When not doing band things, you can find Mr. Anderson golfing, experimenting with home-made cold brew coffee, playing videogames, or spending time with his two quirky cats Juniper and Chai.

Welcome to the CTJ Band Family!

Congratulations to Senior Percussionist Riley Smith for being named an Outstanding Performer at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Competition. This prestigious recognition is an exceptional achievement, as only approximately 2% of all TSSEC entries receive this distinction.

Riley served as the Front Ensemble Captain for the CTJ Band this year and studies privately with Craig Turner. Her dedication, leadership, and musical excellence have been evident throughout her high school career.

This summer, Riley will continue her musical journey as a member of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, touring across the United States and performing at a national level.

Please join us in congratulating Riley on this remarkable accomplishment and wishing her continued success in all her future endeavors!

We are excited to officially announce our new Color Guard Director, Tori Farias! While this may be a new title, Tori is certainly no stranger to the CTJ family. Since 2024, she has served as a visual instructor, designer, and choreographer for our marching band program, bringing exceptional creativity, leadership, and passion to our students and staff.

Tori is an accomplished educator, designer, and clinician with more than 14 years of experience in the marching arts community. Her work spans marching bands, drum corps, winter guards, indoor percussion ensembles, and indoor winds programs across the country. Throughout her career, she has contributed to numerous nationally recognized programs, with ensembles performing her choreography at the highest levels of competition. Among these are Impact Percussion, POW Percussion, FIU Indoor Percussion, and the Blue Devils B Drum and Bugle Corps Color Guard.

Her instructional background includes work with organizations such as The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps, Seattle Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps, and several highly respected high school programs across the nation, including Lockhart, Keller, Wakeland, Upland, Camarillo, Fountain Valley, Chino, and La Quinta High Schools. In 2025, she served as the Color Guard Caption Head for the Seattle Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps. Tori has also been featured as a clinician for the US Bands Summer Education Series and the WGASC Circuit Clinic.

As a performer, Tori’s experience is equally impressive. She performed with the world-renowned Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps, earning DCI World Championships in 2014 and 2015, and was also a member of Braddock Independent, Imbue Winterguard, and the Flanagan High School World Guard. Beyond the marching arts, she has performed professionally in productions for Six Flags and Busch Gardens.

Outside the activity, Tori is a certified yoga teacher and fitness instructor, and proudly shares life with her corgi, Cali.

We are thrilled to welcome Tori into this leadership role and look forward to the passion, innovation, and excellence she will continue to bring to our program. 💕✨

To our Band Seniors of 2026… 🎓🎶

Over the years, you’ve filled rehearsals, bus rides, football games, competitions, and concerts with memories we’ll never forget. We’ve watched you grow not only as musicians and performers, but as incredible people.

Your dedication, laughter, talent, and spirit became such a big part of our band family, and it won’t be the same without you here. It feels like just yesterday you were learning your first show, and now here you are getting ready for your next chapter.

We are beyond proud of everything you’ve accomplished and even more excited for all the amazing things ahead of you. Thank you for the memories, the music, and the moments that made these years so special.

You will always have a place in this band family, and you will be deeply missed. ❤️🎶

We are proud to announce Dr. Jordan Stern as the new Director of Bands at Claudia Taylor Johnson High School!

Dr. Stern returned to CTJ in 2025 as an Assistant Band Director after nine years of teaching at Texas State University. He previously served as an Assistant Band Director at Johnson from 2013–2016 and has been connected to the CTJ band program since the school opened in 2008 as a private lesson instructor. Prior to his time at Johnson, Dr. Stern helped open Brennan High School in 2010 as an Assistant Director. His extensive teaching experience also includes serving on the instructional staff of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps and Winston Churchill High School.

A passionate advocate for lifelong learning, Dr. Stern holds four degrees, including Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Performance and Music Education, a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Texas State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Music Education from Boston University.

In addition to his teaching career, Dr. Stern has performed in a variety of musical settings. His experiences include performing with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, participating as an orchestral fellow at the International Festival Institute at Round Top and the Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival, and performing with the Austin Symphony Orchestra and Midland-Odessa Symphony Orchestra. A versatile multi-instrumentalist, Dr. Stern has also performed as a clarinetist, drummer, and pedal steel guitarist in numerous ensembles and professional groups.

Dr. Stern has presented clinics and educational sessions at the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic and Convention, the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Four States Bandmasters Association Annual Meeting, and teacher in-service events across Texas. He is also a published author, with work featured by Oxford University Press, GIA Publications, the Journal of Band Research, and Agogic Press.

A San Antonio native, Dr. Stern has lived in the Johnson community since 2009. His wife, Sigrid Stern, formerly taught music at Cibolo Green Elementary, and their daughter Gillian is currently a clarinetist at Tex Hill Middle School.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Stern on this exciting new role. We look forward to the continued excellence, growth, and success of the CTJ Band program under his leadership.

Join us for the Claudia Taylor Johnson HS Bands Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, featuring an evening of outstanding performances:

7:00 PM – Concert Band
7:15 PM – Symphony Band
7:40 PM – Symphonic Winds
8:10 PM – Wind Ensemble

Tickets: $10 General Admission | $5 Seniors (65+) | Free for children 5 & under and future Johnson Band students from Tejeda and Hill (RSVP required).

Tickets ⬇️

https://pci.jotform.com/form/261245661895163

Support a Great Cause — Dine with Purpose!

Join us for a delicious way to give back at the CTJ Band Chipotle Fundraiser.

📅 Wednesday, May 6th
⏰ 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 22106 US Highway 281 N, San Antonio, TX 78258

Enjoy your favorite Chipotle meal while making a difference, 25% of all event sales will be donated to support the CTJ Band program.

How to participate:

* Order online for pickup using code JVACWHP, or
* Show this flyer when ordering in the restaurant

Bring your friends, family, and appetite, every bite helps support our students! 🎶

Join us for an exciting evening of music at Claudia Taylor Johnson High School on May 2, 2026 - and best of all, it's free!

The event kicks off with an energetic Percussion Concert at 4:00 PM, followed by a smooth and vibrant Jazz Concert at 6:00 PM featuring both jazz bands. To close out the night, don't miss a special performance where both bands come together for a massive combined jazz finale - a powerful and unforgettable experience!

Bring your friends and family and enjoy an afternoon and evening filled with rhythm, talent, and great music.🎶